Auckland police are investigating a violent assault on a shopkeeper who chased down a thief after her store was robbed. The incident occurred around 6.10pm on Sunday at Pasadena Dairy in Pt Chevalier, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill from Auckland City West CIB said the store owner pursued the thief in her vehicle to the intersection of Tui St and Moa Rd. There, the thief approached her car, leading to a violent confrontation.
“The offender opened the victim’s car door and assaulted her, punching her three times in the face before walking away down Tui St,” Herald quoted Darvill.
The victim’s husband, Prakash Patel, revealed to the Herald that his wife had not been working at the dairy that evening. She had just returned home from shopping when she noticed the thief running away with two boxes of beef jerky. Patel said she immediately gave chase and caught up with the youth down a nearby road.
“After that, the guy just had it out for my wife,” Patel said. “He said, ‘Oh, you’re following me?’ and then attacked her.”
The assault left Patel’s wife with cuts above her eye and significant swelling, rendering her unable to open her eye. Neighbours came to her aid until an ambulance arrived about 30 minutes later. Patel was informed of the attack by a regular customer and quickly closed the shop.
“She’s very injured in her eyesight,” Patel said. “She can’t open her eyes because of the swelling and a cut in her eyebrow.”
The couple did not recognise the attacker. This marked the first time Patel and his wife had encountered such violence.
“I’m a little bit scared now, because I have one little 4-year-old boy,” Patel said.
Patel shared photos of the suspect on social media, hoping for information. The images show a young man with short, dark brown hair, wearing a black jumper, a red shirt, a black belt bag, brown knee-length shorts, and black sneakers.
Darvill confirmed that the shopkeeper was in stable condition after receiving medical attention for her facial injuries. He praised the community members who helped her and called emergency services.
“Police would like to acknowledge the members of the public who came to the victim’s aid shortly after the assault occurred,” he said.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to identify the suspect.